Most visitors to Barley Creek Brewing come for the craft beer, spirits and mountain views. Few realize that behind every pint poured is a wastewater treatment system working around the clock.

Located in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains, Barley Creek Brewing has been serving customers since 1995, producing more than 100 varieties of beer and spirits over the years. But as the brewery grew, so did the amount of wastewater generated by its brewing and hospitality operations. Eventually, its decades-old treatment system could no longer keep pace.

What began as a plan to replace a single piece of equipment soon became something much bigger.

"Barley Creek's existing wastewater treatment system was antiquated, and plans to replace only the decanter were no longer practical," said Pete Huha of Huha Mechanical Services, who worked closely on the installation. "The project evolved into a complete treatment system upgrade."

Building a system for the future

Instead of making temporary fixes, the brewery invested in a larger, fully modernized wastewater treatment facility housed in a new building.

Engineering support from Sara Martin of Clear Path Engineering Solutions helped develop plans for a system capable of handling the brewery's growing wastewater demands from both its brewing and hospitality operations while improving long-term reliability.

Completed in 2021, the upgraded treatment plant incorporates five 50TRN21.5 submersible aerator-mixers, VANCS corrosion-resistant pumps, C Series cutter pumps and FHP decanters from Tsurumi. The equipment was selected to provide reliable aeration, efficient solids handling and consistent treatment performance throughout the wastewater process.

Four years of reliable performance

Since startup, the system has continued to operate as intended, according to Barley Creek owner Trip Ruvane.

"Currently, the wastewater treatment plant uses several Tsurumi pumps, the decanter and the TRN aerator-mixers," Ruvane said. "The equipment is working as designed."

For breweries, wastewater treatment can be especially challenging because the amount and composition of wastewater can change throughout the brewing process. That makes dependable treatment equipment essential for maintaining smooth operations while meeting environmental requirements.

With the upgraded system running reliably, Barley Creek can focus on brewing beer, serving guests and maintaining the experience that has made it a Pocono Mountains destination for more than 30 years.

Source: Barley Creek Brewing